Things to do in Djerba, Tunisia - 12 tips for the holiday island

What to do in Djerba, Tunisia? Djerba is a Tunisian island perfect for those who want to enjoy holiday fun, swimming and spas. You can also enjoy activities, sights, excursions and good food. Here are our top tips!

Djerba in Tunisia

Djerba is known for its sun, swimming and spa. In the past, many charter planes flew directly from Sweden and here, and it is very possible that it will be so again. At the moment, you have to fly a little detour (we flew via Frankfurt and Tunis) to get to this gem!

Djerba is located in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Tunisia. The island is just over 50 kilometres south of the capital Tunis.

What can you do in Djerba?

So what can you see and do on Djerba? The island is popular for sunbathing and swimming, but there are plenty of other things to do. We've put together a list of our top tips here.

1. relax in a holiday hotel

Many people travel to Djerba first and foremost to sunbathe and relax in a holiday hotel. Many hotels are located on the eastern side of the island, where you can access beautiful beaches, while enjoying the hotel's pools.

We stayed a few days at the Palm Beach Palace hotel, where we enjoyed ourselves very much. The room was large and fresh, there was a nice bar, it was close to the beach and the pool area was very inviting. Buffet is not really our favourite, but there was a lot to choose from in the large buffet restaurant.

2. Experience Djerba Beach

On the eastern side of Djerba there is a long sandy beach with soft fine-grained sand. We visited the beach below our hotel Palm Beach. Along the same coast you will also find the beaches Plage de la Séguia and Sidi Maharès Beach.

3. try thalassotherapy

Thalassotherapy is a treatment using sea water. Both cold and warm sea water can be included, as well as sea air, mud, sand and algae. According to many, the treatment can be beneficial in reducing stress and pain, activating blood flow and helping to keep the skin healthy, among other things.

Often treatments can be combined with classic spa treatments and traditional massages. On the island of Djerba, for example, you can visit the Ulysse Djerba Thalasso, which we can recommend for good and relaxing treatments.

4. Stroll in the Houmt Souk medina

Houmt Souk is the main town on Djerba, and is best known for its large market. Here you can browse countless shops and stalls selling everything from clothes and shoes to leather goods, ceramics and carpets.

Was there any shopping for us then? Yes, one pair of shoes each had to leave. The price was so low that we didn't bother to haggle.

5. buying fish at auction

In Houmt Souk you will of course also find fruit, vegetables and fish. We visited the fish hall at the wrong time to experience the fish auction, but if you arrive at the right time, you can hear the buyers bidding on the fish, like in a classic furniture auction. Or you can bid yourself - and then take the fish to a nearby restaurant to have it cooked.

6. shopping for ceramics

If you want to buy something typical of Djerba, take the opportunity to buy ceramics. Plates, saucers and carrots of all kinds are available at the market, but also in many different shops around Djerba.

7. Visit the El Ghriba synagogue

An interesting thing to do in Djerba, if you like sightseeing, is to check out the El Ghriba synagogue. Djerba is home to over a thousand Jews, making it one of the largest Jewish neighbourhoods in Tunisia. The El Ghriba synagogue began construction in the late 19th century, on the site of a synagogue dating back to the 5th century.

The synagogue is the oldest in Tunisia and is also a place of pilgrimage. Tourists are welcome to visit the synagogue, and shawls and kippahs (men's headgear) are available to borrow so you can dress appropriately.

8. See street art in Djerbahood

Djerbahood, in the village of Erridh, offers charming neighbourhoods and fantastic street art. The neighbourhood itself is beautiful, with white houses, blue gates, colourful flowers and nice little shops. You can also see street food from more than 150 artists from 30 countries. It all stems from an art project carried out in 2014, and the neighbourhood has since evolved with more and more paintings.

9. Learn about culture at the Guellala Museum

Housed in a beautiful white building, the Guellala Museum (Musée de Guellala) tells the story of the traditions and cultural history of Djerba.

You walk around different displays that tell you about everything from birth to marriage. We liked this easy-to-understand museum, with colourful displays and signs with brief information in English.

10. Meet crocodiles at Parc Djerba Explore

If you want to see crocodiles, head to Parc Djerba Explore. There are no less than 400 Nile crocodiles here. The area is green and beautiful, and it is truly fascinating to see this large number of impressive reptiles.

The crocodiles are the most impressive, but there are also fine lizards and large turtles to watch.

11. visits Lalla Hadria Museum

The Lalla Hadria Museum is right next to the crocodile park and belongs to the same organisation, and both can be visited with the same entrance fee. The museum displays a fascinating collection of artefacts from Eastern cultures, collected by a private individual. The information signs are so far only available in Arabic and French, but the staff told us that English is in the pipeline.

12. Eat seafood at the Haroun restaurant.

Restaurant Haroun is located in the harbour of Houmt Souk. Here we had a seafood lunch, which was both fantastically good and fantastically nice, with a lovely view.

As usual in Tunisia, several small, tasty starters were served. Then we had mussels, and finally the main course with seafood. Very good!

More to see and do in Djerba

There is, of course, more to see and do on Djerba than what we have mentioned. It is popular to play golf on the golf courses here, and we also saw many people riding horses by the beach and over a shallow area. In Houmt el Souk there is also the old ancient castle Bordj el Kebir, which may be worth a look.

More things to see and do around Djerba

Starting in Djerba, you can take a trip to Matmata, where you can see traditional cave houses and Star Wars filming locations. Going a little further, you can visit Douz, which offers desert adventures such as camel riding, quad bike rides or overnight stays in the Sahara.

More tips for things to do in Djerba?

Have you visited Djerba, or perhaps another place in Tunisia? Do you have more tips on things to see and do in Djerba?

Facts about Djerba in Tunisia

• Country: Tunisia
• Name: Djerba, also spelled Jerba, Jarbah or Jerbah
• Cities: Houmt Souk and Midoun
• Language: Arabic, French and Berber languages (many also speak English, especially in tourist areas).
• Religion: Islam (including Ibadism) and Judaism
• Industries: Cultivation of grapes, figs, peaches, dates, olives and more, as well as fishing for sponges and oysters. Tourism is another important industry, including the sale of handicrafts.

Travelling to Djerba

• Flight: Flights operate regularly from the capital Tunis as well as from various international destinations. Charter companies have previously flown directly from Sweden, which may be resumed again. Please read about our different flying experience, with view from the cockpit.
• Car: Driving from Tunis takes just over 6 hours. The island is connected to the mainland by a seven kilometre long stone bridge, originally built by the Romans. Car ferries also run between the mainland and the island.

History on Djerba

• Antiquity: The island was called Meninx and, according to the Odyssey, was the island of the lotus eaters. The Greek historian Skylax called it Bracheion. Ruins and sculptures have been preserved from the former capital of Meninx.
• 16th century: Djerba served as the headquarters of the pirate and later Ottoman admiral Khair ed-Din Barbarossa.
• Late 19th century: Construction of the El Ghriba synagogue began. However, there has long been a synagogue on the site.